The Maple Leafs’ two best players — Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews — are at the top of their respective games ahead of Game 1.
As much as success in the playoffs can boil down to goaltending and special teams, the best players have to be the best players, and for Marner and Matthews, it’s paramount that they’re hitting the post-season in the proper frame of mind.
“I think the last month or so was definitely the best I felt and played all year, so I want to continue that momentum into this week,” Matthews said. “ motivates you. You take those past experiences and take what you can as you move forward. “We can only focus on what we can control and that’s our preparation heading into this, dialling in the little details of our game, having these couple of days to get ready for what’s to come. I think everybody in this room feels excited, feels ready to go.”Article content
Matthews and Marner are going to have the chance to lead together, as Keefe unveiled what is bound to be his Game 1 lineup on Tuesday. After a majority of players took part in an optional practice on Saturday, it was all hands on deck 24 hours later, with only goaltender Matt Murray absent from the main group.
Matthews will be between Michael Bunting and Marner; Ryan O’Reilly will centre the second line, with Tavares moving to the left wing and William Nylander on the right; Noel Acciari is between Alex Kerfoot and Calle Jarnkrok; and David Kampf will centre Zach Aston-Reese and Sam Lafferty.
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